Grain-binder



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. WILSON.

GRAIN BINDER.

- Patented Dec. 6,1881.

(No Model.) 7 5 Sheets-:Sheet 2. J W. WILSON.

' GRAIN BINDER.

Patented Dec. 6,1881.

znv/evvif n m M /A;,,,

ENE

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. W. WILSON.

GRAIN BINDER.

Patented Dec. 6,1881.

. L W I X t. ,7 1.: cl W m f \J mineaoes,

N. PETERS. PhnlvLilhngmphar. Waihmgmrl. I10.

(No Model.) 4 I v 5 SheetsSheet 4. J. W. WILSON.

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 250,620. Patented De0.6,188 1.

' il a z neowaa. pz zvemzor'.

55%,(Q MM (M ZZMF A a v. A4531? 5 Sh'eetsS'heet 5.

(N 0 Model.)

J. W. WILSON.

GRAIN BINDER.

Patented Dec. 6,1881.

viz/da UNiTnn TATES PATENT Trice.-

JACOB V. WVILSON, OF SUMMERFORD, OHIO.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,620, dated December6, 1881. Application filed June 15, 1881. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAooB W. WILsoN, ofSummerford, Madison county, Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harvester-Binders; and I do hereby declare the followingto a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the ac- 7 is a detailed view of parts of the looping and tyingmechanism. Fig. Sis a sectional view taken longitudinally through theplatform. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the raking-frame; Fig. 10, abottom-plan view of the frame D D carrying parts ofthe bindingmechanism; Fig. 11, a detail view, showing the rake-frame and the camfor raising the catch or pawl to release the rake-head and permit therake-teeth to fall down. Fig. 12 is a view of part of the rake-frame.Fig. 13 shows the end of the rakehead and the devices for holding itwhen the teeth are elevated, together-with the cam for releasing it;Fig. 14, Sheet 3, a view of the binding-arm and its clamps. Fig. 15 is aperspective view of the bar T detached.

My invention has for its object to provide a harvester-binder in whichthe cut grain that falls upon the grain-platform shall be carrieddirectly to a binding mechanism located at one end of the platform bymeans ofa raking mechanism arranged on the platform itself; and itconsists in a machine embodying certain novelties of construction andcombinations of parts, whereby my said object is obtained, which machineI will now proceed to describe.

In the drawings, Arepresents the main frame ofthe machine, mounted uponsuitable wheels, B B, and not differing materially from the frame of anordinary mowing or reaping machine, except thatitis formed with or hasbolted to it a rearwardly-projeeting bar, (J, to which is adapted to besuspended by means of a bar, D, a platform, D, containing the cutting,raking, and binding mechanism of the machine, the said platform beingfurther supported by a drag-bar, D, at its front edge, and a grainwheel,D, at its outer end, as shown.

E is a reel mounted upon a standard extending upward from the drag-bar,and receiving motion through an endless chain passing over asprocketwheel on the end of its shaft, and also around a similar wheelfixed to the revolving main axle or to the hub of one of the wheels B,in the usual manner.

The platform D is preferably constructed of longitudinal front and rearbars or timbers, D D, end cross-bars, D D, an intermediate frame, D,carrying a part of the knotting mechanism, and a plate or table, Dcarrying on its under side other parts of the knotting mechanism, andconstituting also the table onto which the sheaves are gathered and heldwhile being bound. The under side of the platform, beneath the bindingmechanism, is covered with a bottom, D, while its upper side, where thecut grain falls, is provided with a longitudinally-slotted top extendingfrom the outer end of the platform to the binders table, as shown.

The front and rear timbers, D D, are provided upon their inner faceswith longitudinal grooves or guides 01 d back and forth, in which isadapted to slide a rake-frame, F, carrying a rake-head, F, armed withteeth f, which are adapted to project up through the slots in the top ofthe platform. The rake-frame is connected to an endless chain, F whichpasses around a sprocket-wheel, F, at the outer end of the platform andaround another sprocketwheel, F mounted upon a vertical shaft, Fsupported in a bracket, F, at the inner end of the platform. The shaft Fis provided with a pinion, F, with which engages the racktoothed end ofa pitman, F operated from a crank, F on the end of the main axle of themachine. The-rack-teeth of the pitman are kept at all times engaged withthe pinion by means of a guide, F, that plays through an opening in anoffset, F, of the bracket F", and which is joined at both ends to thepitman, as shown. The connection of the pitman to the wrist of the crankis not permanent, but the pitman is provided with a slot, F whichenables it is to be engaged with or disengaged from the wrist, asdesired, by the co-operation of an arm, G, projecting from a rock-shaft,G,

' and kept under the control of the driver of the machine from his seatby means of a foot-lever, G When the pitman is in engagement with thecrank-wrist the vibration of the latter causes the pitman to vibrateback and forth and its racktoothed end to rotate the pinion and itsshaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, therebyimparting to the endless chain a reciprocating motion and causing therake-frame and its rake to advance toward and reeedefrom the bindingapparatus. To arrest the operation of the rake it is only necessary forthe driver to press upon the footlever G and elevate the arm G into thepath of a lateral projection, g, on the end of the pitman, so that whenthe crank brings the pitman around the said arm will strike theprojection and unship the pitman from. the wrist, thus breaking theconnection. The rake head F has its bearings in the forward end of therake-train e, and its extremities, projecting into the grooves d, formthe supports and guides for that end of the frame.

When the rake-frame starts to move forward toward the binding mechanismacam or projection, f, near one end of the rake-head, strikes theupturned end of a stationaryspring,

f and causes the rake-head to be rotated until its teeth f stand upvertically through the slots in the platform, in which position they arelocked from further movement in either direction by the engagement of aspring-catch,

f mounted on the rake-frame with a notch in an enlargement, f*, at theopposite end of the rake-head. Continuing to advance, the raketeethgather the cut grain and sweep it up to and onto the binding-table intoposition to be compressed and bound into a sheaf. Having thus deliveredthe grain to the binding-table, the further movement of the rake-framecauses the spring-catch f to be lifted from engagement with the notch inthe enlargement f by means of a cam, f, on the side of the bar or fronttimber, D thereby releasing the head and permitting the teeth, as theystrike the intermediate cross-frame, D to be thrown down into horizontalposition, where they remain until the rake-frame is reciprocated back toits first position or starting-point.

Extending upward from the front and rear timbers of the platform, atopposite ends of the binding-table,are two standards, H H, and at theupper ends of these standards is mounted a cross-shaft, H, carrying ator near its middle the binding-arm H A fixed curved arm, H rises fromthe rear side of the binding-table, a little to one side of theplane inwhich the hinding-arm moves, and to an extension or offset of the saidfixed arm H is articulated a movable compressor-arm, H, (see Fig. 8,)having a laterally-projecting pin or stud, h,which is adapted to engagewith a slot in a short arm, h, fixed to the shaft H, and against whichthe arm h of a spring, 7L3, coiled about the shaft H,is

also adapted at certain times to bear. Ayielding spring-arm, h, isattached to the arm H as shown.

Securedto the end of the shaft H, at the rear side of the machine, is acrank, 7L5, and connected to the wrist of this crank is a bar, h,whichin turn is connected to the short arm of an angular bar, it, pivoted tothe platform at h", and having an offset, 71/ at its outer end, and acam-slot, h extending nearly its entire length. h is a pawl-arm, pivotedat h, and having anotch or shoulder, h, which at certain times isadapted to engage with the offset h", and having, also, an extendedweighted end,which, when the notch is engaged with the ofi'set, extendsover the bar h and across the slot there- Arranged at the rear side ofthe platform, and connected to the sliding-rake frame in any suitablemanner,is a bar, i, the same extending along the platform some distance,and having at its forward end a laterally-projecting pin, *5, as shown.

At thetime when the rake advances to sweep the grain onto thebinding-table the bindingarm is in an elevated position and the slottedbar h is down, so that the weighted pawl engages with its ott'set andextends across its slot. The movable compressor-arm is also elevated,its lateral stud or pin it being held within the slot in the short armh. Just before the rake-teeth begin to fall down into horizontalposition after delivering the grain onto the binding-table, the pin 11on the bar it enters the slot in theinclined portion of the bar h",strikes the end of the pawl-arm projecting across said slot, therebydisengaging the pawl from the offset, and, traveling along in theinclined portion of the slot, causes the bar to be elevated, and throughthe connecting-bar h and crank h causes the shaft H to be rotated. Soonafter this shaft begins to rotate, and while the binding-arm is sweepingdown, the pin it becomes disengaged from the slot in the arm h, and theend of the coiled spring 7L3 strikes the said pin and causes thecompressor-arm H to grasp the collected grain, form it into a bun dle,and hold it with yielding pressure against the spring-arm h, after whichthe binding-arm passes the cord around it, as will be presentlyexplained. The force with which the spring It bears upon thecompressor-arm H may be regulated by adjusting the sleeve or ring towhich the inner end of said spring is connected, and securing it bymeans ofa set-screw,

The knotting mechanism consists, mainly, of a longitudinally-sliding butnon -'rotating tube, K, around which the cord is wound to form theloop;arotatin g outer cylinder or tube, L, carrying a pair of spring jaws ornippers, l l, which grasp and hold the end of the cord while it is beinglooped about the inner tube, and a central longitudinally-slidinghook-bar, M, and co-operating bar N, which securely grasp the end of thecord lying across the formed loop and pull it through the loop andwithin the inner tube, so as to complete the knot and draw it tight.

The outer rotary cylinder or tube, L, is preferably mounted in hangersor bearings depending from the under side of the binding-table, and hasa pinion, i upon its outer end, with which engages the teeth of avibratory rackbar or toothed segment, 0. On the forward end of said tubeL thejaws or nippers Z Z are mounted. Thescjaws are preferably ofspringmetal and of sufficient rigidity to hold securely a strand or strands ofcord forced between them, and the outer jaw, I, has a stud orprojection, 1 on its innerside,which passes through a perforation in theinnerjaw, l, and projects inward a short distance beyond the latter.

The inner non-rotating tube, K, extends longitudinally through the outertube, L, and has secured to its rear end an arm, it, while on its frontend it is provided with a radial projection, k which at certain stagesof the tying operation is adapted to engage with the stud l on theclamping-jaw Z, to open said jaw and permit the entrance of the cordbetween the twojaws. The said projection k is also adapted to enter alongitudinal slot in the outer tube, L, when the latter is stationaryand the inner tube is moved longitudinally, as will be presentlyexplained.

The central retracting hook-bar, M, extends through theinner tube, K,and is curved around at its rear end and bifurcated to receive the lowerend of the arm 7- of the tube K. It also has a pin, m, which engageswith an arm, Q, pivoted at q and having a spring on its pivot operatingto press the arm inward.

The bar N, which co-operates with the hookbar M to clamp and draw inwardthe end of the cord, lies alongside the bar M in the tube K, and has adownwardly-projecting arm, n, at its rear end, against which a spring, nbears, so as to exert a forward pressure upon the bar.

The toothed vibratory rack-bar or segment 0, which rotates the pinion ofthe tube L, is articulated to an arm, 0, mounted upon a post or stud, 0,and to the lower end of this stud 0 is secured a bell-crank lever 0 onearm of which is slotted at 0 and has an extension, 0 and the otherarm ofwhichis provided with adownwardly-projectin g pin, 0 A vibratory motionis imparted to the bell-crank by means of a projection, 0 on thereciproeaiin g rake-frame engaging with the slotted arm of said lever,and by an arm, 0, projecting from said rake-frame and cooperating withthe downwardlyprojecting pin 0 on the bell-crank lever. .Twoprojections, 0 and 0 are formed upon the front side of the rack-bar, oneof which, 0 operates to throwinto action a pivoted cutting-knife P, whenthe rack-oar is vibrated in one direction, and the other of which, 0serves to throw said knife out of action when the rack-bar is vibratedin the opposite direction.

The binding-arm, at its outer end, is provided with a cord-clampin gdevice, It, consistin g, preferably, of two'thin metal fingers, "r 1',

held closed together bytheir own elasticity, and flared a little attheir outer ends to illsure the entranceof the cord between them. Saidarm is further provided with a curved arm, 1", which, as the armdescends, bears upon the top of the binding-table, and carries into aslot in the table the binding-cord. It is also provided at its end witha lateral projection, 1"", which engages with a locking-catch, 7' belowthe binding-table when the bindingarm is down. Said catch is hinged atone end, and is normally held down by means of "a spring, 1", but isadapted to be raised automatically by the engagement of a downwardprojection, r, at its end with an arm, 1, located on the reciprocatingrake-frame F.

S represents the spool or bobbin containing the binding-cord. It is heldbetween bearings s s, the former of which is rigid, while the lat ter ismounted upon a spring, 8 and is capable of being adjusted by means ofaset-screw, .9 so as to bear with more or less pressure upon the ends ofthe spool, and thus regulate the tension. From the spool the cord passesthrough a perforation, s, in a plate of the intermediate frame, andthence to the clamps on the bindingarm.

T, Figs. 4 and 15, is a centrally-pivoted lever, carrying at its rearend a wedge-shaped projection, t, which is adapted at certain intervalsto rise and spread apart the clamps on the binding-arm, so as to admitthe second strand of cord more readily. The front end of said lever isbentdownward, and is provided with a lateral projection, t, which isadapted to engage with an incline or cam, t on the reciprocatingrake-frame when the latter moves toward the binding-table, for thepurpose of throwing the rear end of the lever and its wedge-shapedprojection upward. A spring, 15 beneath the forward end of the lever,keeps the rear end normally depressed.

Mounted upon a laterally-projecting stud on the top of the rear standardH is a bundle ejector or kicker, U, shaped somewhat like a pitchfork,and kept normally elevated by the action of a spring, a. A spur, u, isformed upon or secured to the base of the crank If, and cooperates witha projection, u on the ejector, to cause the latter to sweep toward therear of the machine and carry off the sheaf or bound bundle from thebinding-table.

From the foregoing detaileddescription the operation of the machine willbe readily understood. NVhen the machine starts to operate thebinding-arm stands in an elevated position with the end of the cord heldin its clamping device, while the rake-frame is at the outer end of theplatform. As the machine advances the rake-frame is reciprocated towardthe bind ing-table by the mechanism before described, and the elevatedrake-teeth sweep the out grain up to and onto the binding-table againstthe springarm h Just before the rake-teeth descend to a horizontalposition, the laterallyprojecting pin t" of the bar i enters the slot ofICC the pivoted bar it, releases the pawl-arm from the offset, and,through the medium of the bar If, connecting-bar h, crank If and shaftH, causes the-movable compressor-arm and the binding-arm to one afterthe other descend, the former compressing the grain into a compactbundle, and the latter passing the cord around thesame, the curved arm rcarryingthe cord into the slotc in the binding-table,where thefirststrand of cord alreadyis. As the end of the binding-arm passes downunder the hinding-table the projection 1" on the rake-frame raises thespring locking-catch v and permits the lateral projection r on thebinding-arm to pass thereunder and be locked, thus securely holding thebinding-arm. The clamps on the binding arm have meanwhile caught thesecond strand of cord between them, and both strands have been carriedin between the spring jaws or nippers Z l of the knotting mechanism,which are held open by the engagement of the stud l of thejaw Z, withthe radial projection k on the inner tube, K. Immediately after thebinding-arm has been secured by the lockingcatch, as aforesaid, orsimultaneously with its being so secured, the cam t on the rake-frameoperates the lever T, so as to cause its wedgeshaped projection 25 torise and open or spread apart the clamps of the binding-arm, to enablethem to take a firm hold upon the second strand of cord, after which thewedge-shaped projection 0 on the rake-frame strikes the slotted arm ofthe bell-crank lever o, and, through the medium of stud 0 and arm 0,causes the rack-bar or toothed segment 0 to rotate the pinion Z and thetube L, to which it is secured. As the tube Lbegins to rotate,its clampsor nippers ll close tightly and hold the two strands of cord, and soonthereafter the projection 0 on the rack-bar strikes the pivoted knife P,and causes it to sever the strands of cord close tothebinding-armclamps.Thecylinderortube L revolves about one and one-half time around, itsclamps l l holding securely the ends of the cord meanwhile. During itsfirst revolution it carries the cord completely around the end of theinner tube, K; but when this is accomplished the stud 0 on therake-frame strikes the end y of a spring-detent, Y, located on the underside of the frame, and disengages said detent from thedownwardly-projecting arm k of the tube K, after which a cam, v, on theback of the rack-bar O strikes the said arm 70, and pushes the tube K alittle backward longitudinally,so thaton the neXthalf-revolution thecordwill not be wound about the tube K, but will cross itself and be drawnover the end of said tube and behind the exposed hook of the hookbar M.The continued movement of the rakeframe causes it next to strike at thepoint to the bifurcated end of the retracting hook-bar M and force saidbar backward, its hook end pulling the ends of the cord completelywithin the tube K and against the forward end of the co-operating bar N,the spring a at the rear of the latter operating to hold said cord endssecurely and positively. A projection, 20, on the rake-frame thenstrikes and moves backward the spring-arm Q, and the latter then, by itsconnection with the pin on the end of bar M, forces still fartherbackward both the tube K and the bars M and N, the radial projection onthe said tube sliding into the longitudinal slotin the end of tube L. Asthe tube K thus moves backward the loop of cord around its end is pushedoff by the stationary outer tube, L, after which the bars M and N, stillholding securely the ends of the cord, pull the knot tight, thuscompleting the operation. Upon the movement of therake back to its firstposition the bars M and N release the ends of the cord and reset thebinding mechanism, as will be readily understood. During such resettingmovement, however, the kicker or ejector U is operated, and catching thebound bundle with its teeth discharges it endwise from the machine.

The raking mechanism is pref rably so constructed and geared as to causeit to gather the grain and set in motion the binding mechanismevery-twelve or fifteen feet as the machine advances; but should thecrop be light, the driver, by operating the foot-lever and disconnectingthe slotted pitman from the drivingcrank, can cause said mechanism tooperate less frequently, or keep it out of operation altogether as longas desired.

It will be observed that in this machine the binding mechanism isoperated entirely and directly by the raking mechanism, and that thelatter is not set in motion until the proper amount of cut grain hasaccumulated on the platform. This I regard an important feature, as byit the bundles or sheaves are kept of uniform size and more satisfactoryWork is performed.

, The main frame of the machine is so constructed that the platform Dcan be detached, when desired, and the proper parts of an ordinary moweror reaper be attached in its place. This is an economy to the farmer, asit renders it unnecessary for him to have but one main frame and drivingmechanism to operate his several machines.

While I have described herein a mechanism adapted to the bindingofgrainwith cord alone, it is evident that with slight adaptation awiretwisting device might be substituted for the knotting arrangement,and wire used as the binding material instead of cord.

The proper adjustment of the platform may I be effected by means of theset-screw Z, which clamps the suspending-bar to the rearwardlyextendedbeam of the main frame.

If desired, a small caster-wheel may be provided to assist in supportingthe inner end of the platform at its rear side.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a grain-binder, the combination, withthe main frame of the machine, of the rearwardly-eXtended bar 0, thedrag-bar D the platform carrying the raking mechanism, the sus- G,capable of being lifted into the path or" the pitman, so as to disengageit from the crank,

whereby the starting and stopping of the raking mechanism is placedunder the control of the driver, substantially as described.

3. In a grain-binder, the combination of a reciprocatin g platformraking mechanism, and a binding mechanism operated directly .by the saidraking mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a grain-binder, the combination, with a grain-platform, of abinding mechanism arranged at one end thereof, and a raking mechanismworking within the platform, and mechanism for causing the rakingmechanism to sweep the grain from the platform to the binding mechanism,and to afterward operate directly upon the binding mechanism to set thelatter in motion, substantially as described.

5. In a grain-binder, the combination, with a binding mechanism, of areciprocating rake adapted, in its forward movement, to gather the grainto the binding mechanism and to operate directly upon such mechanism toset it in motion to bind the gathered grain, and on its return orbackward movement to reset the binding mechanism in readiness for asubsequent binding operation, and mechanism for reciprocating said rake,substantially as described.

6. In a grain-binder, the combination of the rake-frame and the barconnected thereto having the laterally-projecting pin with the angularslotted bar having the ofi'set, the weighted pawl-arm, theconnecting-bar, the shaft carrying the binding-arm, and the crank on theend of said shaft, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the stationary compressor-arin and the movablecompressor pivoted thereto and having the laterally-projecting pin withthe short slotted arm on the bindingarm shaft and the adjustable spring,substantially as described.

said projection to hold the arm locked when down, and the arm on thereciprocating rakeframe for operating said locking catch, substantiallyas described.

9. The combination, with the clamping-jaws on the binding-arm, of thecentrally-pivoted bar operated by the reciprocating rake-frame andhaving the wedge shaped projection for spreading apart said jaws toenable them to secure a tighter hold upon the cord, substantially asdescribed.

10. The outer rotating tube or cylinder of the knotting device carryingthe clamps or nippers, in combination with the non-rotating butlongitudinally-sliding inner tube, having the projection for opening thejaws or nippers, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the outer rotating tube of the knottingdevicecarrying the clamps or nippers,-and the non-rotating butlongitudinally-sliding inner tube having the projection for opening thejaws or nippers, with the longitudinally-sliding central hook and thesliding bar cooperating with said hook to grasp and hold the ends of thecord positively and pull them through the loop to form a hard knot,substantially as described.

12. The combination of the rotating outer cylinder or tube having thepinion on its rear end with the vibrating rack bar or segment, thebell-crank lever, and the intermediate connecting parts, and with theprojection on the rake-frame for operating said bell-crank lever,substantially as described;

13. The combination of the outer rotating cylinder or tube carrying theclamps or nippers with the inner non-rotating tube and with thevibrating rack-bar having the cam on its rear side for retractingslightly the .inner tube, substantially as described, for the purposespecified.

let. The combination of the inner tube having the downwardly-projectingarm at its rear with the detent for normally locking said arm and thepin on the reciprocating rake-frame for operating said detent to releasesaid arm, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the sliding central hook-bar having the curvedand bifurcated rear end with the spring-arm connected to said end andthe projection on the reciprocating rake-frame for operating saidspring-arm, substantially as described;

J AOOB W. WILSON.

Witnesses:

WM. A. BLACKSTOCK, M. CHURCH.

